ECLECTIC COUNSELLING
INTRODUCTION
Counseling is a generic service of student’s personal work having a wide range of activities and includes faculty advising, counseling in psychological clinics, mental hygiene and other specialized types of counseling. It is a body of techniques which helps young individuals to grow up normally through guided learning. Counseling has proved to be very useful for the development of an individual student. Colleges and Universities, industries and business establishments are becoming increasingly interested in counseling and its potential for improving interpersonal relationships. “Counseling is a dynamic and purposeful relationship between the people in which procedures vary with the nature of the student’s needs, but in which there is always mutual participation by the counselor and the student with the focus up on self-classification and self-determination by the student. ”
Counseling is classified in to different types. This division is done based on the nature of the counseling process and the part of the counselor. There are three main types of counseling. They are directive, non-directive and eclectic counseling. In directive counseling counselor is active. In non-directive, counselor is passive.

ECLECTIC COUNSELING
Eclectic counseling is defined as the synthesis and combination of directive and non-directive counseling. It represents a middle status between the two extremes represented by the ‘non-directive’ technique on one hand and the ‘directive’ technique on the other. In eclectic counseling, the counselor is neither too active as in the directive counseling nor too passive as in the non-directive counseling. He just follows the middle path between these two.
The chief advocate of this type of counseling is Thorne. In eclectic counseling, the needs of a person and his personality are studied by the counselor. After this the counselor selects those techniques, which will be useful for the person. The main techniques used are reassurance giving information, case history, testing etc.
In eclectic counseling the counselor first takes into consideration the personality and need of the counselee. He selects the directive or non-directive technique that seems to serve the purpose best. The counselor may start with the directive technique. When the situation demands, he may switch over to the non-directive counseling and vice-versa. An attempt is made to adjust the technique to the requirements of the situation and the individual.

Steps in Eclectic counseling
The leading exponent of the Eclectic counseling Thorne, suggested the following in the process;
1) Diagnosis of the cause.
2) Analysis of the problem.
3) Preparation of a tentative plan for modifying factors.
4) Securing effective conditions for counseling.
5) Interviewing and stimulating the client to develop his own resources and to assume its responsibility for trying new modes of adjustment.
6) Proper handling of any related problems which may contribute to adjustment.

Assumptions of Eclectic Counseling
1) In general, passive methods should be used whenever possible.
2) Active methods may be used with specific indications.
3) In the early stages when the client is telling his story, passive techniques are usually the methods of choice. This permits emotional release.
4) Until simple methods have failed, complicated methods should not be attempted.
5) All counseling should be client centered.
6) Every client should be given an opportunity to resolve his problems indirectly. Inability of the client to progress through therapy as using passive methods alone is an indication for utilizing more directive methods.
7) Directive methods are usually indicated in situational mal adjustment where a solution cannot be achieved with out co-operation from other persons.

Characteristic of Eclectic Counseling
1) In this, objective and coordinating methods are used.
2) In the beginning of counseling, client-active methods are used and the counselor remains passive.
3) In this, more importance is assigned to the job efficiency and treatment.
4) In this, the principle of low expenditure is emphasized.
5) In such counseling, for the use of all the methods and techniques, the professional efficiency and skill of the counselor are must.
6) Keeping in mind the need of the client, it is decided whether directive method or non-directive methods should be used.
7) Making an opportunity available to the client is insisted so that he may find himself the solution of the problem.

Disadvantages of Eclectic Counseling
1) Some people are of the view that eclectic counseling is vague, opportunistic and superficial.
2) Both directive and non-directive counseling cannot be mixed together.
3) In this, the question arises how much freedom should be given to the client? For this there is non-definite rule.
4) The problem with an eclectic orientation is that counselors often do more harm than good if they have little or no understanding about what is helping the client.

Hierarchy of Eclectic Practices
McBride and Martin advocate a hierarchy of eclectic practices and discuss the importance of having a sound theoretical base as a guide. The lowest or first level of eclecticism is really syncretism – a sloppy unsystematic process of putting unrelated clinical concepts together. It is encouraged when graduate students are urged to formulate their own theories of counseling without first having experienced how tested models work. The second level of eclecticism is traditional. It incorporates “an orderly combination of compatible features from diverse sources harmonious whole“. Theories are examined in greater depth. On a third level, eclecticism is described as professional or theoretical or as theoretical integration.
This type requires that counselor master at least two theories before trying to make any combinations. A final level of eclecticism is called technical eclecticism. In this approach, procedures from different theories are selected and used in treatment.

CONCLUSION
F.C. Thorne, who is the exponent of this view, finds that it is possible for a counselor to alternate between directive and non-directive methods even in the same interview without disrupting the non-directive permissive relationship with the client. He selects the techniques according to the requirements of the situation and the individual. The counselor must be competent and proficient in the use of all available methods. The validity of the results is determined by the skill with which any method is used. The critical factor is not what method is used but rather the skill with which it is used.
(Notes in OHP Sheets)
Eclectic Counseling
– Synthetic and combination of directive and non-directive counseling
– Counselor is neither too active nor too passive
– Chief advocate: Thorne
– Counselor studies the personality and needs of client based on the need of client, eclectic counseling is used
-techniques used are:
· Reassurance
· Giving information
· Case history
· Testing
Counselor starts with directive technique, then switches on to the non-directive technique.

Steps in Eclectic Counseling
1) Diagnosis of the cause
2) Analysis of the problem
3) Preparing tentative plans for modifying factors.
4) Securing effective conditions for counseling
5) Stimulating the client to develop his own resources and trying new models of adjustment.
6) Proper handling of related problems which help in adjustment.

Assumptions of Eclectic counseling
1) Passive methods must be used whenever possible.
2) Active methods are used only with specific indications.
3) In the early stages when the client is telling his stories passive methods are used. It permits emotional release.
4) Complex methods are used only when simple methods fail.
5) Client-centered
6) Client is given opportunity to resolve his problems indirectly.
7) Directive methods are used where co-operations of other persons are needed for the solution.
Characteristics of Eclectic Counseling
1) Objective and coordinating methods are used.
2) In the beginning client active methods are used
3) Counselor remains passive.
4) Importance is given to job efficiency and treatment.
5) Principle of low expenditure.
6) Professional efficiency and skill of counselors are must.
7) Based on the need of client, directive and non-directive methods are used.
8) Provide opportunity to client to find solutions to his problems himself.
Disadvantages of Eclectic Counseling
1) It is vague, opportunistic and superficial.
2) Directive and non-directive cannot be mixed.
3) How much freedom should be given to the client?
4) Lack of skill of counselor can do more harm than good.
[ REFERENCES
1) Guidance and Career Counseling (A.K Nayak., V.K Rao.)
2) Principle of Educational and Vocational Guidance (K .Sharma.)
3) Elementary Guidance and Counseling (Rashmi Agarwal)
4) Fundamentals of Guidance and Counseling (R.A. Sharma)
5) The Basic Essentials of Counseling (Indu Dave)
6) Guidance and Counseling (Indira Madhukas)
]

DIRECTIVE COUNSELLING
In this type of approach the counselor plays an important role .A major goal is to replace the emotional behavior of the individual with deliberately rationale behavior .Although he avoids dictatorial advice .This approach is also known as counselor-centered. Under this process the counselor plans the counseling process, his work is to analyze the problem, identify the triggers identify the exact nature of the problem and provide various options.
Williamson was a great profounder of this kind of approach as he stated that this approach is good to address the problems relating to educational and vocational adjustment.This type of counseling is a concept,where educational and vocational guidance relate to the personality dynamics and interpersonal relationship.This type pf counseling is more useful where the individual wants information and advice for choice of a career.This approach does not focus its attention on personality development as such.
Steps of Directive counseling:-
Williamson has given six steps Directive counseling:
1)Analysis :It includes collection of information about the individual which can be collected through structured interviews,psychological case history methods, Interaction with family members, friends, etc.
2) Synthesis: After collection of lot data the information is organized in the logical manner to analyse the individual in terms of his qualifications, assets, potentials, liability adjustment, cultural background, habits etc.
3) Diagnosis :The diagnosis consists of the interpretation of the data in relation to the nature and problem, the causes of problems.
4)Prognosis: Under this step a prediction is made about the future development of the problem.
5)Counseling : The counseling here is to bring about adjustment and re-adjustment to the individual in relation to his problem. Attitudes and interest of the individual are considered during the counseling.It emphasis the individual to develop life cycle where an effort in the positive direction could lead to success and success in turn could lead to further efforts and motivations.
6)Follow -up :The sixth step in directive counseling is follow up which is extremely important. An individual may be able to solve immediate problems through counseling but new problems may occur or the original problem may re-occur. Follow-up with the client is extremely necessary. The role of counselor is important as he has to make the individual understand and accept his strength and also his weakness and faults.
That technique is considered as a most economic approach and important for student counseling because it is less time consuming and student who lack experience are easily influenced by the counselor’s experience and specialize knowledge. The students feel that the counselor has superior Knowledge and therefore a professional relation takes place. The relation is the base of this kind of approach. A submissive and highly emotionalized counseling of student can cultivate self-confidence in the individual. A relationship is based on dignity to help the student to reach his goal.
Directive or Counselor-centered or prescriptive counseling: Counselor-centered counseling revolves around the counselor. He tries to lit good relations to the friendship and assistance. In this, the counselor is active and he expresses his ideas and attitudes independently. He evaluates expressions of the client. According to this view point the counseling interview .In this, the counselor asks a series of standardized questions. Each carries a short answer. The counselor does not allow the development of expression and feelings. He leads as an expert, evaluates and gives suggestion vice.
I Basic Assumptions of Directive Counseling :
According to Willy, the following can be the basic assumptions of directive counseling-
a) Competency in giving Advice-: The counselor posses the best training experience and information. He is more competent to provide an advice to problem.
b) Counseling as an intellectual process -: An client’s intellectual is not destroyed as a result of mal-adjustment. Hence counseling is primarily an intellectual process .It stresses upon the intellectual aspects of a person instead of emotional aspects of the personality.
c) Counseling objectives as problem solving situation-: The objective counseling are achieved through problem solving situation.
d) Client’s incapability of solving the process-: The counselor does not posses the capability for solving the problem always.
Advantages of Directive counseling:
1) This method is useful from the time consuming view- point .It saves time.
2) In this type of counseling, there is more focus on the problem and the person.
3) The counselor can look the client directly.
4) Counseling focuses more on the intellectual aspects of the person than emotional aspect of the personality.
5)In this process, the counselor becomes readily available to help which makes the client very happy.
Limitations of Directive counseling-:
1) In this process the client is more dependent. He is also less able to solve new problems of adjustment.
2) As the client is never independent of the counselor, it is not an efficient best guidance.
3) Unless and until a person does not develop some attitude through experiences, he cannot make any decision himself.
4) The counselor fails in serving the client to commit the mistakes in future
CONCLUSION
As the client was in need of some information regarding his vocation, counselor provided that to the best of his knowledge. He wanted to select a direction and the counselor helped him in choosing that the counselor gave some alternatives in the same line so that the client may be able to select avocation according to his choice and can choose a career if he is not able to go for IIT.
During counseling, the counselor tried to explore the reason for his choice of vocation, like why is he motivated towards this job? Is his selection worthy and genuine?

[ References:
1) Elementary Guidance and counseling
-Rashmi Agrawal
2) Guidance and counseling
-R.A. Sharma
3) Guidance and counseling skills
-Ramesh Chathurvedi ]